MELANIA TRUMP has been married to Donald Trump for 13 years, but that didn’t stop her husband’s ex-wife Ivana Trump from claiming she is the real First Lady. Now photos reveal the seemingly complicated relationship between the two women.

Many photos appear to show Ivana and Melania embroiled in awkward encounters, while others show the two women smiling and seeming to enjoy each other’s company.

The two women were even spotted enjoying the 2001 US open together, with Donald and Ivanka Trump - Donald and Ivana’s daughter.

Despite being on good terms with Melania during the start of her relationship with Donald, it appears that things may have turned a little sour.

In an interview with The New York Post, Ivanka revealed some insights into how she and Melania get along.

Talking to the publications celebrity news site, Page Six, Ivanka spoke on the alleged infidelity of Donald Trump, saying: "I feel bad for [Melania] because I know how bad I did feel. It hurts a lot.

“I divorced Donald immediately [after I discovered the Marla Maples affair] because I told myself, ‘Am I going to live with the person [who] is going to say, ‘I’m going to go and play golf’ [leaving me to] think, ‘Is he really going to go and play golf?’ I cannot do it.'"

Melania and Ivana were often pictured together in the late 90s and early noughties (Image: Getty Images)

While her words seemed to offer condolences and show support for the First Lady, Ivana also said a few things that may have negatively impacted her relationship with Melania.

The Czech former model continued: "I have pride and I have dignity and stuff like that, but so many women, around the world, they live with the men knowing that they are cheating and stuff like that. Everybody handles their situation in their own way."

The slightly condescending comments came after Ivana gave another interview in October last year, claiming she was the real “First Lady”.

Talking to ABC, Ivana claimed: “I have the direct number to White House but I don't really want to call him there because Melania is there, and I don't really want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that because I'm basically first Trump wife, OK? I'm First Lady, OK?”

As Ivana Trump says she's the 'first lady', we compare Donald Trump's first and third wives, Ivana and Melania Trump.

The statement read: “[Melania Trump] plans to use her title and role to help children, not sell books. There is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex, this is unfortunately only attention-seeking and self-serving noise.”

Following the drama, Ivana then told Fox & Friends: ”I sent to Melania the text [saying] the last thing I would want to do is say something bad about you, you know, because you are family and I don't say anything bad or do anything back to the family member.”

Taking to her Instagram page, the First Lady shared an image of herself with the two men, smiling widely on the steps of the White House.

The First Lady captioned her Instagram post: “@potus & I enjoyed dinner with Tim Cook last night in Bedminster. Proud of the job he is doing at Apple - big innovations & investments in the USA, which positively impacts our economy!”